Does anyone know what IP actually means? Is it relative to other players, or relative to the button?
I'm assuming OOP means the blinds and UTG.
Hello,
Positon is one of the most important concepts in poker!
OOP - Out of Position
IP - In Position
Allways
relativ to the villain, the blinds, etc.
Lets say you open a hand at a 6max Holdem game from UTG aka EP. Preflop you are first to act, 5 players behind you. You will play OOP against 5 players preflop. This will switch postflop, because the SB is allways first to act. So against the blinds you will play IP, against the rest of the table OOP.
Wich is why you want to play a tighter range of hands when opening from UTG, because it is way more likely to play OOP against a villian that is IP (Relativ to you).
Hence why the blinds (especially SB) are the positions wich are less profitable to play. First of you are forced to pay, no matter what youre hand is, second you will have to play OOP more frequently.
Only play youre strongest holdings when playing OOP (UTG and SB) and try to be the last to act preflop, so going in as the "aggressor" by opening, 3-betting and 4-betting. This will give you the advantage that youre Handrange is uncapped. Wich means you could have the strongest possible holdings like AA-JJ, AKs etc. So for instance if a flop comes with A, you will have an easy continuation bet, because you will most likely have the stronger Aces. Same goes for a flop like 8h8c2s, it is more likely you allready have a strong pair in your hand, and on such a dry board the villian wont hit a lot. Wich makes it easy for you to take the pot down right there.
While playing OOP very tight, play a bit looser when IP. to try to balance that out. Hands like J8s are very nice hands when on the BU but you usually dont want to play them UTG. Depends on the situation really, but i hope you get the idea